Printing machinery



April 4, 1939- W: E. HAMLIN 2,152,736

PRINTING MACHINERY Filed Oct. 29, 1936 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING MACHINERY Application October 29, 1936, Serial No. 108,239

3 Claims.

Where paper is printed and then passed into a folding stage, there is a tendency for the ink to be more or less smeared in the folding operation, this being particularly pronounced with some inks. In accordance with the present invention however, it now becomes possible to avoid this difliculty, and by means free from undue complication and cost.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of printing machinery embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown printing machinery F, in which cylinders P apply ink impressions to the traveling paper w, in print or other ink impressions as the case may be, the paper web proceeding over guide rollers 2 into the first folding rollers 3, and thence is guided by guide rollers 4, across cutter roll 5, to a fold trough or fold rollers 6, into whose bite a folder finger 1 is arranged to thrust the paper doubled, the knife 8 on the cutter roll having severed such portion of paper from the on-coming web. The folder finger I is secured to a rotary shaft s, there being in practice generally a plurality of such folder fingers on the rotary folder finger shaft, such shaft being mounted in a rotary carrier 9 which may be in the form of end disks or rings on the rotary shaft ill mounted in the framing. Means is provided for turning the carrier 9 in appropriate movement with the oncoming paper, such that the folder finger is out of the way until the time in the cycle for pushing the doubled paper into the fold rollers 6, whereupon the folder finger swings into position thrusting the doubled paper into the bite of the fold rollers. While the details of mechanism for this may Vary somewhat, an advantageous construction may involve a cam control or planetary satellite path, as for instance a pinion I I on the end of the folder finger shaft 8, meshing within a ring gear [2 fixed to the framing F, the carrier shaft I being turned by suitable gearing in connection with the general press drive. At a point adjacent the carrier 9, a cleaner means is provided for the folder finger, whereby each time after it has come in contact with the inked paper it is cleaned and prevented from accumulating and carrying ink smudge into the succeeding paper fold. Such cleaner means is in a form allowing the folder finger to be suitably wiped thereon in transit, and-one desirable arrangement of construction is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein the cleaner means takes the form of a pair of wiper rollers l4, l5, idly mounted in the framing, as in bearing boxes slidably movable therein and urged in a direction toward each other by springs l6, l1, and desirably with an easing spring l9 between. The wiper rollers I4, i5, are of suitable surface to wipe off the ink which may have been smudged onto the folder finger, and one desirable construction thereof involves cut cloth bodies as made up for instance of closely packed textile disks on the roller shafts, and held as a roller body assemblage by suitable tightening clamp means as for instance screwed-on collars at each end on the rollers, as known in roll construction generally and requiring no particularization. The wiper rollers are arranged with relation to the folder finger such that the latter in its travel of the circuit determined by the revolution of the carrier 9, at an appropriate time is thrust into the bite of the wiper rollers and then withdrawn, the frictional engagement of the rollers, together with the yielding pressure thereof affording a thorough wiping action on the surfaces of the folder device. For such timed movement, the pinion l l on the folder finger shaft s again serves, in its travel around the ring gear IE, to turn the folder finger outwardly at the time of coming opposite the wiper rollers l4, [5, thereby thrusting the folder finger into the bite thereof and then withdrawing it.

The operation of the entire structure is clearly understood from the foregoing. The paper w traveling through the array of printing cylinders P receives whatever ink impresses are desired, and thence proceeds to the primary folding rollers 3, and to the guide and cutter rollers 4 and 5, and thence over the fold rollers 6, at which time the pinion ii of the folder finger shaft 8 is in such position with respect to the ring gear l2 as to thrust the doubled paper into the bite of the fold rollers 6, and then quickly withdraw the folder finger, the shaft of the latter being car- 50 ried around thence in turn such that the pinion II again in its coaction with the ring gear l2 thrusts the folder finger into the cleaner mechanism l4, l5, and the folder finger is then carried on to repeat the cycle.

Printing and folding of paper where there is prone to be some irregularity of setting of inks is thus accomplished with insurance against smudging from folder finger action. This is particularly advantageous Where, as the case of some very pronounced colors or erratically drying inks, work which has been carried through with a high standard up to the very last operation has been.

more or less defaced there finally. With the prevention of this, it becomes also possible to run certain color and fancy effects which would otherwise be impossible without stage-wise special drying and extra handling.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the character described having means for applying ink impressions to paper and folding means therebeyond including a folder finger and a rotary shaft to which said folder finger is secured and a pinion secured to said shaft, together with a rotary carrier in which 7 said shaft is mounted, means for cleaning the folder finger and means inhibiting binding of the folder finger, including a pair of cleaner rollers positioned at a point adjacent said carrier having bodies of cut cloth discs presenting raw absorbent edges, and mounted in bearing boxes for idle rotation, and spring means seating against said boxes for urging said cleaner rollers together.

2. In apparatus of the character described having means for applying ink impressions to paper and folding means therebeyond including a folder finger and a rotary shaft to which said folder finger is secured and a pinion secured to said shaft, together with a rotary carrier in which said shaft is mounted, means for cleaning the folder finger and means inhibiting binding of the folder finger, including 'a pair of cleaner rollers positioned at a point adjacent said carrier and mounted in bearing boxes for idle rotation, spring means seating against said boxes for urging said cleaner rollers together, and another spring between said boxes.

3. In apparatus of the character described having means for applying ink impressions to paper and folding means therebeyond including a folder finger and a rotary shaft to which said folder finger is secured and a pinionsecured to said shaft, together with a rotary carrier in which said shaft'is mounted, means for cleaning the folder finger and means inhibiting binding of the folder finger, including a pair of cleaner rollers positioned at a point adjacent said carrier and mounted loosely Without positive rotation, and resilient means urging said cleaner rollers together.

WALTER E. HAMLIN. 

